Why was Anakin guarding Padme alone at the end?

I have another theory on this one, too. I believe that it is part of Anakin's trials. The Jedi obviously know the temptation is there. They are testing Anakin to see if he fails the test,or as Yoda says, "Chooses the right path." Which, of course, he doesn't, big time.

I think this is one of the reasons that Anakin leaves the order. The test was not fair and the teachers knew it.

 

I believe that Obi-Wan senses that Anakin feels the need to be trusted. Obi-Wan is starting to loosen the reigns on his apprentice and is starting to let him handle more responsibility, preparing him for his next step to full fledged knighthood.

It could also be that Obi-Wan simply underestimated Anakin's feelings for Padme.

Edit: I think someone else in this thread came up with a very reasonable explanation: Sensing they have an emotional attraction is one thing; expecting them to get married first chance they get is something else entirely!

 

Yoda says " the dark side clouds everything"
I GUESS THAT THE DARK SIDE clouded their view of what Anakin and Padme were up to.

 

Yoda must know something is about to happen and maybe teh force was guilding him to let Anakin go with Padme.

 

This is a very interesting thread, great thread BTW.

I personally think the Jedi Council felt as if Amidala still needed back up, even if the battle was over, a war had begun, and they did say they didn't to keep a close eye on the Senate, right?

And I personally think Amidala asked for Anakin to come along.

 

Perhaps with the onset of the Clone Wars, the Jedi can't afford to have two of their most skilled warriors go to Naboo, hence Anakin going with Padme alone.

 

I think this is one of the reasons that Anakin leaves the order. The test was not fair and the teachers knew it.


How was that not a fair test? That's how the tests and trials to advance as a Jedi go(I'm reasonably sure anyway), you have to overcome things like this. The test was quite fair.

 

It's not a fair test if you don't know you're being tested. Obi-wan knew there was a deep emotional attachment. In a couple of deleted scenes, he tells both Yoda and Mace about this and about how worried he is. Yoda and Mace just brush his worries aside with "We will just have to hope he chooses the right path." So, that indicates to me that they considered it a test. They had enough input to realize their Chosen One would probably fail. Yet, they let him go off alone with her AGAIN.

 

It certainly is a fair test to not know you are being tested. In fact one could say that is the MOST fair type of test--because you are reacting as you would in a "normal" situation. It's like a pop quiz--in reality those are the most fair types of tests(not to say I liked them more than anyone else does ), because you really should be learning and studying all the time, not just cramming the day before the test. Or if you work in a store, and they send "test customers", so they can see how you treat the customers on a regular basis, not just when you know are being watched.

I'm not saying that in retrospect it wasn't a bad idea, they should have listened to Obi-Wan's misgivings about his readiness to be on his own. On the other hand, those sorts of difficult tests are exactly what a Jedi has to face, all the time, at any time in their lives. You can't just wait until you think you are sure someone won't fail, because that time is never going to come, failure can come when you least expect it and so can success.

It wouldn't be a test if Anakin didn't have feelings for her, that is exactly what makes it a test. Everyone keeps saying they fear Anakin and they know they've got a timebomb, but these show that no they don't know that. This shows that they don't, all of them, that includes Obi-Wan and the Council, while they know Anakin has problems, none of them things he will do anything as bad as he does. They believe in his basic decency. So they are basically being faulted for believing him to be a better person than he turns out to be.

 

I'm sorry, I didn't make it clear that I was looking at the "test" from Anakin's point of view. He would certainly think that it was not a fair test.

 

Well that may be true, Lady_Sami, I certainly believe you are quite correct on that.

 

[Yoda] Hmmm, meditate on this I will! [/Yoda]

I think that at this point Yoda does know some of the future, especially after he hears Qui-Gons voice.

If you take into account some of the comments mde in the OT, I definatly believe that Yoda knows more than he is letting on.

 

Great thread. I think Yoda, Mace, and especially Obi-Wan were all aware of Anakin's "crush" and were allowing him to escort Padme back to become "more mindful of his thoughts". I am sure Anakin is not the first young Jedi apprentice in history to have developed certain feelings for someone prominent. The best way to overcome one's deepest problems is to confront them. Remember Yoda saying this to Luke in ROTJ about facing Vader again?

However, how in the world would they know that Padme was actively encouraging Anakin? They are probably as confused by Padme's character as a large section of the audience are (including poor me)! They have only seen a highly accomplished and galactically very important senator who always follows decorum and "does her duty." Obi-wan, in particular, seems to have a high opinion of her. They haven't seen the backless dress, the lakeside kiss, the meadow roll, the leather dress, etc with a Jedi trainee, and possibly could not imagine that once out of sight, the 24-year-old serious senator would start to behave like a 17-year-old with a gigantic crush. She is 5 years Anakin's senior and far more experienced in the ways of the world, but behaves in AOTC as if she is younger than him.

If WE had not seen the Naboo scenes and the out-of-the-blue love pledge, but seen her hugging Anakin in the hangar, we would have thought she was comforting an old friend who is badly injured (like in TPM aboard the ship).

I think the Jedi underestimated the will of the Force (if in the scheme of things, the twins HAVE to be produced) and how Padme would be exactly opposite what they had known her to be, before.

 

If WE had not seen the Naboo scenes and the out-of-the-blue love pledge, but seen her hugging Anakin in the hangar, we would have thought she was comforting an old friend who is badly injured (like in TPM aboard the ship).

Judging by what I saw in the hanger I would have assumed they were rather close friends if not more. That was no mere hug. She didn't even notice anyone else, and once they embraced it was clear they forgot everyone else. IF you watch closely and listen she also gives him a kiss, but it is a very quick one.

They most likely will have no idea that they ran off and got married, but must suspect that something is definately not quite kosher here. They'd have to be morons not to have suspicsions. They are making the erroneious assumption that Anakin will make the Jedi choice and it will end.

They have no idea what is about to come down, with the possible exception of Yoda, who I strongly suspect knows much more than he is letting on. Judging by his look right after the trasnport arguemnt between Obi and Ani, he clearly knows something. He also heard Qui's voice adn is very concerned.

 

Judging by his look right after the trasnport arguemnt between Obi and Ani, he clearly knows something. He also heard Qui's voice adn is very concerned.

My interpretation of Yoda's look is that he knows Obi-Wan and Anakin are about to face Dooku and may not be successful given that Anakin seems to be somewhat out-of-control. So he decides to go and face his ex-padawan. IF he was concerned about Padme, he would have gone over to pick her up.

The embrace in the hangar scene is very quick and is in the midst of total all-out war. The Jedi are probably more concerned with Dooku's escape at that point than Anakin/Padme. I think that it would be asking a lot of Yoda/Obi-Wan at that point to analyze that padme's feelings for Anakin had so totally reversed based on that hug.

Also, Anakin IS a Jedi apprentice. Shouldn't they want him to face challenges and make Jedi choices and become a Knight? Especially since he himself thinks that he is ready and "ahead of Obi-Wan". If they had NOT let him accompany Padme, wouldn't he have complained that as usual they were "holding him back"? Not trusting him?

 

"I also think that Anakin used a Jedi mind trick on Padme before they went into the arena."

No, he didn't because Padme is too strong to be affected by the Jedi mind trick.

Anakin himself said so when he told her during their picnic, "It only works on the weak-minded, You are far from weak-minded".

 

My interpretation of Yoda's look is that he knows Obi-Wan and Anakin are about to face Dooku and may not be successful given that Anakin seems to be somewhat out-of-control. So he decides to go and face his ex-padawan. IF he was concerned about Padme, he would have gone over to pick her up.

I don't believe his concerns had anything to do with Padme, but rather with Anakin. There is a reason they cut to that particular look on his face right after Anakin finally relents that Obi Wan is right. ( I would have jumped out, but he was right to stay as to borrow a quote "The good of the many outweigh the good of the few or the one" . I believe it is this coupled with Dooku's presence which I am sure Yoda is sensing that he is concerned about.

Sorry if I didnt make that clear. And it is more than a quick hug in the hangar. Much more. But I feel the council is mistakinly assumeing Anakin will do the Jedi thing and end the relationship. I doubt they ever expected him and Padme to run off an elope.

 

It's been awhile since I've posted in this thread. Amazing that it's still going.

Anyway, you guys have made some great points. I think there is a valid argument in that sending Anakin to Naboo alone with Padme is part of the trials. However, my question would be how would the Council ever know if he passed it or not?

I would think that someone would oversee it. The two could come back and claim that nothing ever happened. Anakin most likely knows how to conceal his feelings from his fellow Jedi by now. I would think that someone would have to verify that he passed.

 

I don't believe his concerns had anything to do with Padme, but rather with Anakin.

And it is more than a quick hug in the hangar. Much more.

I have a different POV than you about Yoda's look. IMO, at that point in AOTC, Dooku is far more important than Anakin and therefore, Yoda would be more concerned about preventing Dooku's escape than Anakin's disobedience. Also, about the hug. To the audience, the hug has a very clear meaning. To Yoda and Obi-Wan, not knowing what happened on Naboo, it may not be clear what Padme's feelins are.

I will agree to disagree with you about how much Yoda and Obi-Wan knew about Padme's involvement and that Anakin had already decided to disregard the Jedi Code about marriage and attachment.

EDIT: SmoovBillyDee " The two could come back and claim that nothing ever happened. Anakin most likely knows how to conceal his feelings from his fellow Jedi by now. I would think that someone would have to verify that he passed.

True and I think that we will have to wait for EIII for this. Only GL knows! I doubt, though, that Anakin will be able to keep this secret for long, especially from Yoda. The interesting thing will be to watch how the JC deal with Anakin's failures. Or, maybe they become too preoccupied by the unravelling Republic to pay much attention to Anakin, thus enabling him to hold on to his secret a while longer?

 

To Yoda and Obi-Wan, not knowing what happened on Naboo, it may not be clear what Padme's feelins are.

I agree they dont' know what happened on Naboo. But Obi Wan knows how Anakin feels abou the Senator. They dont know the details, but it doesn't take a genius to pick up on the signals. And they certainly dont expect them to be married. As a Jedi they would expect him to act like a Jedi. But he doesn't. I agree. They had no way to know that he/they would ignore the code so flagrantly.

I will agree to disagree with you about how much Yoda and Obi-Wan knew about Padme's involvement and that Anakin had already decided to disregard the Jedi Code about marriage and attachment

See above we disagree on the first, and agree (I think) on the second part. They don't know all the details or how far it has gone, but they do know that something is up. (no pun intended).

I have no problem with agreeing to disagree though. There are so many different opinions on this and other subjects its amazing.

I also agree that Dooku wasa main priority. I didnt' think of it, but your correct. Yoda of all would have realized that. Dooku is his primary concern, but Anakin is a secondary one. I am sure he doesn't have specifics, more like a something that can't be fully explained. His Jedi intuition, if you will.